Matthew 19:10 kjv
His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
Matthew 19:10 nkjv
His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry."
Matthew 19:10 niv
The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry."
Matthew 19:10 esv
The disciples said to him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry."
Matthew 19:10 nlt
Jesus' disciples then said to him, "If this is the case, it is better not to marry!"
Matthew 19 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:27-28 | So God created man in his own image... male and female he created them... Be fruitful and multiply... | God's original design for humanity and procreation. |
| Gen 2:18 | Then the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." | Marriage as God's remedy for loneliness, intended companionship. |
| Gen 2:24 | Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. | The foundational principle of marriage as a permanent union. |
| Deut 24:1-4 | When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce... | The Mosaic law allowing divorce, interpreted broadly by Pharisees. |
| Mal 2:14-16 | ...you have dealt treacherously with the wife of your youth... "For the man who hates and divorces," says the Lord, the God of Israel, "covers his garment with violence," says the Lord of hosts. "So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be treacherous." | God's clear displeasure and hatred of divorce. |
| Matt 5:31-32 | "It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery..." | Jesus' earlier teaching on divorce, aligning with Matthew 19:9. |
| Matt 19:1-9 | Jesus came into the region of Judea... Pharisees came to him... Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?... What God has joined together, let no one separate. | The immediate context of Jesus' teaching on marriage preceding v.10. |
| Mark 10:2-9 | And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"... "What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." | Parallel account of Jesus' teaching on marriage. |
| Mark 10:10-12 | And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her..." | Disciples privately ask for clarification, emphasizing strictness. |
| Luke 16:18 | "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery." | Luke's succinct account of Jesus' strict teaching on divorce. |
| 1 Cor 7:1-9 | Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to touch a woman." But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife... | Paul's teaching on marriage, singleness, and avoiding sexual immorality. |
| 1 Cor 7:10-16 | To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband... If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. | Paul applies Jesus' teachings on indissolubility of marriage to Christians. |
| 1 Cor 7:25-35 | Now concerning the unmarried, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment... The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord... | Paul's practical advice on singleness for kingdom service. |
| Matt 16:21-23 | From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things... Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him... "Get behind me, Satan!" | Disciples' natural, human reaction resisting difficult truths from Jesus. |
| Matt 19:11-12 | But he said to them, "Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given... Let the one who is able to receive this receive it." | Jesus' response directly addresses the disciples' concern about marriage/singleness. |
| Luke 14:26-27 | "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." | Radical demands of discipleship can involve reordering priorities even over family. |
| Matt 10:37 | "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." | Emphasis on Christ-centered priorities above all relationships. |
| Prov 18:22 | He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. | General wisdom on the goodness of marriage (contrasting disciples' perception here). |
| Heb 13:4 | Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. | New Testament emphasis on honoring and preserving the sanctity of marriage. |
| Eph 5:25-33 | Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her... | Marriage as a picture of Christ and the Church, a high calling. |
Matthew 19 verses
Matthew 19 10 Meaning
Matthew 19:10 captures the disciples' shocked reaction to Jesus' radical teaching on the permanence of marriage and the strict limitations on divorce. Having heard Jesus forbid divorce except for sexual immorality, they conclude that if such high standards apply to a husband's bond with his wife, then marriage itself seems like an undesirable and overly burdensome commitment, making singleness appear to be a more prudent choice. This statement reveals their difficulty in grasping the divine ideal of marriage that Jesus presents, contrasting sharply with the prevailing Jewish interpretations of their time.
Matthew 19 10 Context
This verse is immediately preceded by Jesus' direct interaction with Pharisees about the permissibility of divorce (Matthew 19:3-9). The Pharisees, testing Jesus, questioned if it was lawful to divorce for "any cause," reflecting the liberal view of Hillel's school which allowed divorce for trivial reasons. Jesus, however, appealed to God's original creation intent (Gen 1:27, 2:24) as the foundation for marriage, emphasizing its permanence and "one flesh" union, declaring that "what God has joined together, let no one separate." He then states that divorce leads to adultery, with only a specific exception for sexual immorality (porneia). It is in response to this stringent teaching, which challenges the widespread practice and interpretation of Mosaic law regarding divorce, that the disciples make their blunt statement. Historically, divorce was common and relatively easy for men in Jewish society, especially according to the more permissive rabbinic schools, making Jesus' pronouncement remarkably radical and restrictive for their cultural context.
Matthew 19 10 Word analysis
- The disciples (οἱ μαθηταὶ - hoi mathētai): Refers to the immediate followers of Jesus. Their response is typical of human reaction to difficult or demanding truths, showing their struggles with Jesus' high standards. This is not just a casual comment, but a collective sentiment from those closest to Him.
- said to him (αὐτῷ εἶπον - autō eipon): Direct address, indicating their concern and immediate feedback to Jesus' teaching.
- "If" (εἰ - ei): Introduces a conditional statement, implying a direct logical consequence or inference drawn by them from Jesus' previous teaching.
- such is the case (οὕτως ἐστὶν ἡ αἰτία - houtōs estin hē aitia): "Such" refers to the conditions just laid out by Jesus concerning marriage and divorce—that it is indissoluble except for sexual immorality, and remarrying after divorce (apart from the stated cause) is adultery. "The case/reason/matter" (αιτία - aitia) signifies the foundational principle or argument being discussed. They are processing the absolute nature of Jesus' definition.
- of a man with his wife (τοῦ ἀνθρώπου μετὰ τῆς γυναικὸς - tou anthrōpou meta tēs gynaikos): This specifies the relationship context—marriage. "Anthropos" (man) is general, but here it contextually refers to the husband in the marriage covenant. They highlight the binding nature of the husband's responsibility to his wife within Jesus' framework.
- it is better not to marry (οὐ συμφέρει γαμῆσαι - ou sympherei gamēsai): "Not profitable/expedient/advantageous" (συμφέρει - sympherei) means "it is better for one not to marry." This reveals their immediate human reaction of expediency or perceived self-interest. If the demands of marriage are so high, without an easy out, then avoiding the commitment altogether seems like a preferable, less burdensome option. It expresses their natural, albeit limited, perspective on the immense demands of the Kingdom.
Matthew 19 10 Bonus section
This verse serves as a crucial bridge between Jesus' teaching on the permanence of marriage and His subsequent discussion of singleness. The disciples' reaction effectively prompts Jesus to elaborate on the concept of voluntary celibacy "for the sake of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:11-12), implying that if marriage is not for everyone due to its profound demands, neither is marriage the only ideal path. Their difficulty reveals the gap between cultural norms and divine ideals, inviting believers to constantly re-evaluate their perspectives on commitment and relationships through a biblical lens. The statement also shows that even Jesus' closest followers sometimes struggled with the practical implications of His teachings, emphasizing that discipleship often requires a re-calibration of our natural instincts and preferences in light of God's perfect will.
Matthew 19 10 Commentary
The disciples' statement in Matthew 19:10 is a poignant expression of human incredulity when faced with divine standards that seem exceedingly high or burdensome. Their immediate takeaway from Jesus' teaching on marriage, where divorce is virtually forbidden, is one of despair: if the marital bond is so strictly permanent, devoid of easy escape, then why even enter into it? This highlights their struggle to grasp the counter-cultural, radically commitment-oriented nature of God's original design for marriage, which Jesus re-established. Their pragmatic "it is better not to marry" response mirrors humanity's tendency to seek paths of least resistance, especially when spiritual truths demand profound sacrifice and lifelong fidelity. It underscores the contrast between their temporal, practical reasoning and Jesus' emphasis on kingdom values, where covenant integrity transcends convenience. This also sets the stage for Jesus' subsequent teaching on singleness for the sake of the kingdom, revealing that while His standard for marriage is high, He also honors those who choose singleness for higher spiritual purposes, not just out of fear of commitment. This dialogue reveals the true cost of following Christ's teachings in all areas of life, including intimate relationships.